News
MPH’s Schaffner comments on the Measles quarantine
May. 10, 2019—The cruise ship with a measles case on board remains under quarantine in its home port of Curacao as health officials wait to see if more people aboard become infected. The quarantine could last up to two more weeks, a public health expert told Forbes, a scenario more likely given that the majority of the ship’s...
Clayton: Gene testing and U.S. laws
May. 10, 2019—While DNA testing upends the practice of medicine, U.S. laws aren’t keeping pace. That’s one message from a nearly finished 3-year, $2 million project called LawSeq, which aims to build a legal foundation to support genomic medicine. Doctors and other health care providers are already facing lawsuits that broach new legal terrain—and sometimes even hold...
In MMWR, MPH graduate Foster reports on increase in Hepatitis A infections
May. 9, 2019—Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is primarily transmitted fecal-orally after close contact with an infected person (1); it is the most common cause of viral hepatitis worldwide, typically causing acute and self-limited symptoms, although rarely liver failure and death can occur (1). Rates of hepatitis A had declined by approximately 95% during 1996–2011; however, during 2016–2018,...
MPH’s Schaffner: Antibiotics and big Pharma
May. 6, 2019—New antibiotics, which often compete with cheap generics, generally don’t cost more than $1,000 a day, or about $10,000 for a course of treatment. That compares with cancer drugs priced at $100,000 a year or more, so pharmaceutical companies focus on the more lucrative medicines. And infectious disease doctors, wary of promoting resistance, are reluctant...
Dusetzina discusses consumers out-of-pocket drug prices
May. 2, 2019—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is working on a proposed rule that would require drug companies to disclose the list prices of prescription medications when advertising them directly to consumers on television.
MPH’s Schaffner explains the need for a Measles booster
May. 2, 2019—Unvaccinated individuals have been the focus of attention during this year’s measles outbreaks. A record 704 cases of the illness have been confirmed in 22 states so far in 2019, and the CDC says the majority of those diagnoses have been in unvaccinated people. Health officials have repeatedly warned nearly everyone to get the shot if they haven’t...
MPH alumna named 2019-20 Fulbright grantee
May. 2, 2019—Eight Vanderbilt students and alumni have been awarded funding to pursue graduate study, conduct research and teach English around the world through the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The Career Center and Graduate School advised them on the application process, providing support and facilitating the internal nomination process for this highly competitive award. The Fulbright U.S. Student Program, founded...
Dusetzina: CAR-T payment challenges
Apr. 30, 2019—Hospitals don’t want to keep losing money over this treatment, and that could affect who gets it. More CAR-T therapies are in the development pipeline, but competition isn’t a sure-fire solution given its personalized nature. Hospitals can lose upwards of $100,000 dollars when they provide CAR-T therapy to a Medicare beneficiary on an inpatient basis. If...
Dusetzina discusses the high cost of insulin
Apr. 30, 2019—According to the American Diabetes Association, about 1.25 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes —less common than Type 2 — and cannot live without insulin. A peer-reviewed study published in December, which looked at people with diabetes being treated at the Yale Diabetes Center in New Haven, Conn. Of 199 participants, 51 people — just over 25%...
MPH’s Schaffner: One vs. two Measles vaccine doses
Apr. 30, 2019—Nearly two decades after measles was declared eliminated in the United States, the country and the globe have seen an upsurge of cases — including adults who thought they were protected by the vaccine. Now, some are questioning whether they are properly vaccinated and whether they are still at risk for getting measles. In research studies, nearly everyone developed signs of...
Schaffner: US measles cases hit highest mark in 25 years
Apr. 26, 2019—Measles in the U.S. has climbed to its highest level in 25 years, closing in on 700 cases this year in a resurgence largely attributed to misinformation that is turning parents against vaccines. “This is alarming,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccine expert. Not only is measles dangerous in itself, but its return...
Griffin and Stevenson receive VUMC endowed directorships
Apr. 25, 2019—On April 16, Vanderbilt University Medical Center held its second Directorship Celebration to honor 10 leaders from across the enterprise in clinical care, research, education and administration. The MPH Program holders of VUMC’s new endowed directorships are: Marie Griffin, MD, MPH, holder of the Endowed Directorship in Public Health Research and Education David Stevenson, PhD,...
Moore discusses Measles in Tennessee
Apr. 24, 2019—Even the one case of measles confirmed in East Tennessee last week has triggered a costly emergency response. The state’s Department of Health treats every patient like a ticking time bomb. It usually starts with a call from a local doctor treating someone who just traveled abroad and becomes very ill, then develops the signature...
In NYT, Buntin discusses Medicare For All
Apr. 22, 2019—If Medicare for all abolished private insurance and reduced rates to Medicare levels — at least 40 percent lower, by one estimate — there would most likely be significant changes throughout the health care industry, which makes up 18 percent of the nation’s economy and is one of the nation’s largest employers. Some hospitals, especially...
MPH’s Schaffner: Measles and the spread to vaccinated populations
Apr. 22, 2019—An Israeli flight attendant has slipped into a coma after contracting measles, according to health officials. The 43-year-old woman has encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, a well-known and potentially deadly complication of the virus. She was otherwise healthy before getting measles. Ongoing measles outbreaks in the United States and Israel started with parents who’ve...